Beech T-34B Mentor by Minicraft
1/48 Scale
Kit No. 11697
Decals: Two versions, both U.S. Navy
Comments: Engraved panel lines, recessed and raised rivet detail; cockpit features detailed seats and recessed relief on instrument panels
History
The T-34 was developed at a time when there were no funds in the defense budget for new military trainers. To build a new aircraft as economically as possible, the Pentagon turned to the Beech Model 35 Bonanza, a known commodity in the civil aviation market that had a reputation for quality. The Bonanza’s fuselage with its four-passenger cabin was redesigned and replaced with a narrower fuselage incorporating a two-seater tandem cockpit and bubble canopy, which provided greater visibility for the pilot trainee and flight instructor.
The result was a rugged military trainer featuring tricycle landing gear and a single piston engine. Structurally, the T-34 was much stronger than the Bonanza, being designed for loads of +10g and -4.5g, while the Continental E-225 engine was the same as that fitted to contemporary Bonanzas. The Model T-34B was a U.S. Navy trainer, operated until the early 1970’s when it was replaced by the T-34C Turbo-Mentor which was fitted with a turboprop engine (423 built by Beechcraft). T-34Bs were flown by pilots assigned to the Navy Recruiting Command until the mid-1990s.
Production began in 1953, when Beechcraft began delivering T-34As to the United States Air Force and similar Model B45 aircraft for export. Production of the T-34B for the United States Navy began in 1955, featuring a number of changes reflecting the different requirements of the two services. The T-34B had only differential braking for steering control on the ground instead of the T34A nosewheel steering, additional wing dihedral, and adjustable rudder pedals instead of the moveable seats of the T-34A. T-34A production was completed in 1956, with T-34Bs built until October 1957 and licensed B45 versions built in Canada, Japan, and Argentina until 1959. Total production of the piston engine versions in the US and abroad was 1,904 aircraft.
When the aging T-34 fleet was phased out by the U.S. military, many found their way into civilian hands. Because the T-34 was based on the Bonanza and was built in large numbers, parts are easy to locate and relatively cheap. With excellent flight characteristics and low maintenance requirements, the airframe is beloved by the warbird community.
Specifications
Crew: 2
Length: 25ft 11in
Wingspan: 32ft 6in
Empty weight: 2,170 lbs
Max takeoff weight: 2,950 lbs
Powerplant: Continental Motors IO-470, 225 hp
Propeller: Two-bladed Beech Propeller
Cruise speed: 152 kts
The Kit
Minicraft’s T-34B Mentor is injection molded in grey plastic and consists of 94 parts, including 9 clear plastic parts for the bubble canopy, and navigation and landng lights. The airframe is a bit unorthodox in that it features a combination of recessed panel lines and raised rivet detail, the latter being unusual in recently tooled kits. This one recent but not new — it is based largely on Minicraft’s T-34A Mentor, first released as a newly tooled kit in 2018.
The cockpit assembly features nicely detailed seats (each seat consists of five parts with molded on seat straps), sidewalls and side instrument panels with raised relief, recessed detail on the main instrument panels, and well molded tandem control yokes. The instructions systematically call out paint colors by name, with the only reference to a paint manufacturer (Model Master) appearing on the last page with a three-view drawing of the two Navy versions of the T-34B.
Construction is fairly straightforward, with separate parts for the instrument panel hood in the front cockpit, and the cowling, and includes the introduction of actual wing spars at Step 10. The bubble canopy consist of four individual parts, there is a choice of four different types of spinners for the airscrew and the propeller blades are to be individually mounted. The landing gear and landing gear doors are nicely detailed, but the wheels themselves appear a bit too small for this scale, until you consult a reference photo and confirm that the Mentor’s wheels were not particularly large. Finally, there is a clear display stand to allow modelers to depict the kit in flight if they so desire.
Markings
The kit markings are by Minicraft and appear to be excellent. They are perfectly in register and have an absolutely flawless gloss finish with realistic colors throughout, and to top it off they are protected by a foolscap sheet. Markings are provided for two versions of the T-34B, both of which are painted in Insignia Yellow with Black anti-glare panels fore and aft of the cockpit, and Black walkways on both wings. The first version, Bureau No. 140706, bearing Black 130 on the nose, was based at NAS Staufley in the mid-1950’s. The second version, Bureau No. 140676, bearing Black 15 on the nose, was based at NAS Pensacola in July 1955.
Conclusion
This is a highly detailed kit of an important military trainer used by the U.S. Navy for at least two decades during the Cold War. Its only real drawback is the multitude of raised rivets on the fuselage — something more akin to kit molds of the 1950’s — which will greatly complicate the application of decals. This is a bewildering thing to see in a kit that is essentially of 2018 vintage. Modelers are advised to take the time and trouble to sand these down early on and save yourselves some headaches during the decalling process. Highly recommended, that one flaw notwithstanding.
References
- Blackwell Aviation ~ https://blackav.com
- www.globalair.com
